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Comments
I paid $13,482 [tax not included] for Major Tom. He is a four door manual with both upgrade packages and the all weather guard package.
Just got a letter from my dealer's service department. Toyota says to do maintenance on either a 5k or 7.5k interval and the first maintenance is an oil change. Know when the dealer is suggesting it be done? At 3,750 miles.
Actually, since my mileage is below average, I am going to be doing servicing based on months and not mileage.
I think too early yet and most owners will
be holding on to their Echo for a long time.
I know I plan to drive mine until the very last.
Yet leases last two or three years so is anyone
leasing an Echo that will end this year or next? I
predict that Consumer Reports will someday
have the Echo in the recommended used car
list but it will be difficult to find one.
Now, I want to talk about used Echoes. I work down the street from a Daewoo dealership. Sometime last year I saw an Echo on their lot for sale. I stopped in and it could have been the Major's older "twin." It was a 2000. I do know the previous owner was an older woman, but I don't know what she traded it in own. I believe they wanted $12,950. I saw another used Echo advertised in the paper and they wanted even more for it, but it was automatic.
I am off to work so have a nice day.
For info, my echo, is a red, two door, manual with the "sport package" (extra trim and spoiler)....manual is the only way to go in the echo...
In any case, it fits well, works great and the control lever looks like a "factory" unit.
After driving it for 14,000 kms. and 8 mos. I'm very happy with this transmission. It's the best auto I've ever driven for these reasons;
1) It has a lock up torque converter which means it doesn't slip on the highway and hurt gas mileage like most autos.
2) It has electronic shift logic which means it decides when to change gears using a computer to optimize efficiency and performance. I'd bet money that it shifts better than I would with a manual, and I'm pretty compulsive about stuff like that, because it is always "paying attention". In fact it's so agressive about up shifting on low idle that it takes some getting used to, and others have wondered (on this forum) if something was wrong !
3) There are no "driveaway" issues even in the coldest weather. Older style autos usually required warming up. This one doesn't. I've left it out at -30C, then jumped in , turned the key, and away i went with no hint of a problem.
4) The performance is amazing. I don't know if i should give more credit here to the trans or the VVTi engine, but if you put your foot down it goes, anytime, anywhere! I've even pulled a utility trailer with a 1500# load (GCVW over 4000#), and it pulls hard even at 75 MPH (120+ Kph).
Oh yeah, I'm kind of fond of my little "Echopod" as you may have guessed by now.
The new wipers were installed and do not make noise any more when in use. The old noisy hubcaps were replaced by new improved thicker hubcaps... and the noises were gone also.
I complaint to the idiot service manager for the 2nd time that engine still knocking upon acceleration but his 2 mechanics could not find anything unusual with the engine. He recommended me to use 92 octane gas instead of the manufacture recommendation of 87 octane. Its only worth to pour 92 gas octane if you own a Mercedes. I hate to hear the bothersome knocking noise every time I accelerate.
They could not find what caused the clunking noise which come from the steering column because they did not want to spend the time to listen... and I still hear it after I got the car back. I will still complaint and ask them to check the noise again the next time I bring the car in.
The mileage has dropped from an average of 33 mpg ( combined highway/city driving) to a recent low of 29 mpg.
Anyone out there who has problems with their Echos please bring it to the dealer before the 36,000 miles warranty expires cauz they will be expensive to replace with your hard earn $.
Sorry to hear you are having so many problems with your Echo! As another post said, there are lemons in all makes.
I am enjoying my Echo very much! I would like to know if any owners out there could tell me how much they were charged for the initial service. It's mainly just an oil change with visual inspections...
5 quarts X $4.50 = $22.50
In comparison, the dino oil comes to your dealership in large quantities, cause the dealer buys it in bulk, probably for $.80 a quart. 5quarts X $.80 = $4
I messed up. Thought that kaz6 asked the question.
BTW, what was the purpose of your question?
They pay retail or close, unless they buy the stuff in bulk.
The service asked for in the manual sounds like your typical lube change visit so unless I need any warranty work done I think I'll bypass the dealer.
My tranny is much smoother now. I have just over 3000 miles in less than two months.
The door lock buttons are begining to rattle though. I think I am going to put some velcro on the stem to keep them snug.
Well the fact that the right and left headlights have to be aimed differently and the fact the the hood is shaped over the headlights, causes the appearance of the hood being uneven.
I hadn't even thought of this since the end of that particular discussion months ago, so I don't know why it suddenly occured to me. Anyway I thought I'd share my theory with you all.
1. when comparing the Echo to the first water cooled VW's, I'd hardly call the VW rabbit funky.
2. If you had actually read either of Edmund's reviews of the car you'd see that it was reviewed as a poor choice both times. The same as umpteen other car reviews. Not that an actual owner sees these things this way but when optioning up the Echo to 14K and beyond it is hardly a value. The civic EX and focus ZX3 offer better option packages and better performance and handling and therefore better value for your money. Again I will stress that the echo is not really in the same class as these 2 cars. It is amore along the price lines of the Hyundai Accent and Kia Sephia. But people seem to disavow this fact. If Toyota had meant for the Echo to compete with this class of cars the Corolla would be out the window.
Thanks,
Linda
Yes, the Echo twitches in high wind...that is wind gusts above 25mph. I drive the high desert a lot and it does get twitchy-speeds above 65mph.
It is not more so than other high profile vehicles though.
I think it's a shame to discount any vehicle for ONE aspect.
In normal weather conditions it is very stable all the way up to 90mph. Unlike my ZX-2, the wipers also work well at those speeds due to the aerodynamically sound design of the exterior.
The Echo may compare to the Korean brands in price but not technology. The Corolla is smaller inside but has more bells and whistles.
As far as value, that is a very subjective matter and some value technology and functionality over amenities.
Then again, if we all liked the same car for the same reasons we'd all be driving the same car wouldn't we?
Linda
P.S. I love this car. My husband is 6'5" and can ride comfortably everywhere, even in the back seat. We live in San Francisco and can park it anywhere. It is zippy and very fun to drive.
We tried to fit into a Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Saturn, and VW Golf and Bug, and the Mazda Protoge and found them cramped and in some cases undrivable for my husband.
The Echo seems to be just like any other little cars we have owned (corolla, tercel). You can feel wind and the turbulence from a semi, about as you would expect from any small car. No better, no worse. It is no way as bad in wind as the mini van.
Just on general principles I thought I should complain about something while the car is still on warrantee, so I complained that the gas mileage was only 51 MPG (Imperial gallon) and not the 55 MPG the salesman talked about. The service rep got a good laugh out of that!
At this point, another customer who drove a Sienna van got involved and started complaining that he only got 25 MPG, so the service rep. tried to sell him an Echo.
I still enjoy filling the tank on this baby 8 months after buying it. Today I filled it and the (city only) mileage was 8 liters/100KM (35 MPG) even though the temperature has been between -10C and -20C.
For new readers' benefit. The only gouy who seems to have trouble with his Echo on this forum reports that his is an "aggressive driving habit". He also complained about the same problems he reported on this week months ago, but only recently took the car to the dealer. His Echo is not necessarily a lemon.
I just feel sorry for people who's self image is tied to the appearance of their car. It's not that I don't like the way my Echo looks. I really do, but appearance is way down the list for me when it comes to my priorities for a vehicle.
I guess I need to make myself clear as to the "crosswinds" I experienced: 40mph gusts! Gusts are much harder to navigate smoothly than constant winds. All of this is moot under 70mph anyway.
Downsbem: didn't mean to get you mad!
I completely disagree.
A lot of people, I would say the vast majority, choose their cars strictly basing on the car's image.
With the new manufacturing techniques the auto companies will be able to produce both - good-looking and highly functional cars.
The Japanese are the masters of the small car packaging.
Others (mostly Europeans) are quickly catching up.
http://auto.ascii24.com/auto24/e/
Thank you for the link to the auto-ascii site. I see that the Suzuki Aerio looks a lot like the Echo, Prius and Insight. I expect that it also has a coefficient of drag in the same class.
I'll make a rash prediction that within 2 years most people will see this "nose down" styling as "normal".
Still thinking of upgrading wheels and tires...anyone have 15" on theirs? I saw one in LA and it looked very nice-black with 10-spoke rims.
3200 miles in a month and a half...love it!
I stopped off at the grocery store tonight and when I came back, I thought my hood looked a little uneven. I ran a finger between the hood and the light on both sides. I could get more of my finger under the left side than the right. This really worried me so thank you for the explanation to the difference between the sides.
Time for bed.
Did you notice the big header dump tubes on it? It must be a pretty high performance engine to have that kind of "extractor" type of exhaust system. It reminds me a lot of a 2 cycle motorcycle "tuned pipe".
I'd like to see some specs and a price tag before I comment further.
My primary view of a vehicle is that it must be:
1) very reliable
2) safe
3) be competitive in terms of life cycle cost with the best (Echopod for limited mileage or Prius for high mileage use)
4) Sufficient performance and comfort not to compromise safety.
I am given to understand that "pumping losses" in internal combustion engines make higher RPM & low throttle inherently less efficient than lower RPM & higher throttle operation for a given power output. So even though this situation makes the vehicle seem "sluggish" it's actually putting money in my pocket as it chugs along !
I also found that at gentle acceleration, the Echo auto shifts up very aggressively (IE quickly). Much quicker than I normally do with a standard transmission. I was taught not to "lug" an engine,I.E. to let it rev up a bit before shifting, but my fantastic gas mileage tells me that my Echopod is quite happy just putting along !
http://www.knousecomputer.com/amazing. html
I noticed a slight dip in mpgs this last time, but there were several mornings where I let the car warm up longer than normal.
Remember, start, adjust, go!
The gas millage has improved a lot, I'm sure many of you remember I complaint about it last time. I followed the advices, don't wait until the blue light goes off, drive way after start the car for 2 minutes. The last time I clocked it was that I have 33.2 mpg for 80% on highway. I know many of you think this is low, but if you remember I posted about the way I use the Echo for commute, this is not bad!
Ok, I better post this message before someone slip in before me, I still want to be the 1001st post.